Meet the actuaries

Sim Segal

FSA, CERA, MAAA
U.S. Leader of ERM Services
Watson Wyatt & Company

As U.S. Leader of ERM Services with Watson Wyatt & Company, Sim Segal consults with companies in a variety of sectors, including insurance, banking and non-financial services (e.g., manufacturing, telecommunications, etc.) In his day-to-day role, Sim develops new products and services, markets them by writing articles, gives speeches at industry events, makes presentations to potential clients, and also leads client engagements, which includes meeting with senior executives and Boards of Directors.

In addition, Sim supports the growth of the profession by serving as an active volunteer for the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and other actuarial organizations. Most recently, he was elected as a Vice President of the SOA Board of Directors for the upcoming October 2009 – October 2011 term.

But Sim does not stop there – he recognizes the importance of mentoring the future of the profession. "I often get involved with helping new entrants into the profession, either by offering guidance or helping them land an opportunity. I also love mentoring and helping actuaries develop the skills they need to advance. When you can help someone change their life path, help them achieve their goals, you’ve changed a whole world for someone," explains Sim. "At the end of my life, I think I’ll look back most fondly at those times when I was able to help people along with their path."

Through his mentoring, one thing Sim encourages aspiring actuaries to do is to develop business savvy skills, like communication, leadership and management. Employer surveys reveal that actuaries with both technical and business savvy skills go the farthest, and these skills can be learned through courses, seminars and volunteer work.

What other advice does Sim have to share with aspiring actuaries? "The earlier you identify what type of work you want to do, the earlier you gain the experiences and skills you will need to get there," he says. "Look for opportunities to apply actuarial skills in new ways." And just what new opportunities does Sim see on the horizon for the profession? "We are on the cusp of an exciting era where everyone is more aware of the need for better risk management," he says. “The actuarial profession is poised to gain a significant market share of the new opportunities this will create."